Ananta, the free-to-play open-world game that looks a whole lot like Grand Theft Auto’s urban sandbox got an anime makeover, finally has a release date.
Publisher NetEase and China-based developer Naked Rain announced that Ananta is launching worldwide on 15th January, 2027 for PC, PlayStation 5 and mobile devices, years after it first debuted under the working title of Project Mugen.
A snazzy new trailer also debuted at last night’s Gamescom Opening Night Live show, showing off some giant skylines and, well, a bit of everything, really – open-world driving, cycling, skateboarding, flying, stealth, melee combat, in-game social media apps, a seemingly massive cast of characters, and an even more massive UFO that comes out of nowhere. I did say everything, after all. Take a look.
Ananta – Official Release Date Trailer | gamescom 2026 – YouTube
While punching up thugs and getting into car chases are a big part of the trailer above, Ananta’s promising that the full game will be much more focused on becoming an influencer in pursuit of endless attention. NetEase says there’s a unique social media platform in the game, and you can take steps to grow your follower list over time, presumably by punching up thugs and livestreaming a UFO invasion, that is. A few Gamescoms ago, we saw a toilet with legs running about, which should also be good algorithm fodder when the time comes.
And, even though we’ve only been focused on one character so far, Ananta will have multiple playable characters who apparently open up new opportunities in the open-world cities. NetEase reportedly removed the gacha elements related to unlocking those extra characters a couple years ago, but it’s not clear if gacha-type monetisation will appear elsewhere.
Over 17 million people have already pre-registered for the game. You can join them here if you’re interested in potentially earning some free cosmetics and in-game currency.
